Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed minister Ganesh Naik as its election in-charge for Thane district, the political stronghold of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra local body elections.
BJP’s move is being viewed as an effort to balance internal equations within the party and consolidate its base in politically sensitive districts.
Thane, in particular, holds strategic importance as it is the home turf of Shinde.
Ganesh Naik’s appointment comes just months after he made several critical remarks about Eknath Shinde, who heads the Shiv Sena, a key BJP ally in the state government, reported the PTI.
As part of its preparations for the local polls, the BJP has announced a comprehensive list of district-level election heads and in-charges across Maharashtra. Naik will supervise election activities in Thane city, Thane rural, Kalyan, Ulhasnagar, Mira-Bhayandar, Bhiwandi, and Navi Mumbai.
Meanwhile, in Beed district, BJP MLA Suresh Dhas has been named district election head, while minister Pankaja Munde will serve as election in-charge. Both leaders, who were previously at odds following the last Assembly elections, will now have to coordinate their efforts.
Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane has been appointed election in-charge for Sindhudurg district, while Ganesh Bidkar will handle Pune rural.
In Mumbai, minister and MLA Ashish Shelar will serve as election in-charge, according to the PTI.
For other key regions: minister Jaykumar Gore has been given charge of Solapur, minister Atul Save will oversee Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, former chief minister Ashok Chavan (who recently joined the BJP from Congress) will manage Nanded, and MP Dhananjay Mahadik will handle Kolhapur, the news agency reported.
MLA Prashant Thakur will serve as election in-charge for Raigad, Girish Mahajan for Nashik, and Sanjay Sawkare for Jalgaon. In Ahilyanagar, minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil will oversee election management, while Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol will be responsible for Pune. MLC Niranjan Davkhare has been given Ratnagiri, and minister Shivrendraraje Bhosale will handle Satara, the PTI reported.
The BJP stated that these appointments form part of its state-wide strategy to strengthen organisational presence and ensure effective coordination ahead of the upcoming civic elections.
(with PTI inputs)
